Physical Education, Health and Recreation

Overview

If you consider yourself physically active and healthy, and enjoy working with others to educate them on the benefits of being physical active, you will enjoy a career in health/wellness. Students in this program receive a broad foundation in health/wellness/administration. Students in this program are encouraged to choose a minor.

Physical Education/Health with Teacher Licensure

As a physical education/health teacher, you have the opportunity to inspire young students to be physically active and healthy throughout their lifetime. You can play a vital role in the development of a student physically, cognitively, socially and emotionally. The healthy behaviors they learn can lead to lifetime wellness and decrease the percentage of individuals who are obese. Our program provides a many experiential learning opportunities in the classroom and the community.

Course Offerings

Careful planning of one’s course of study is necessary to ensure that general education, major, and professional teacher licensure requirements are met within the framework of four years. It is particularly important to complete PSY 101: Introductory Psychology (3 hrs.) in the first year. Students should meet with the adviser for teacher licensure in physical education as soon as possible. Admission to teacher education is not automatic and occurs only after certain qualifications are met, which include a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7, a minimum 2.7 in the major, a minimum score on certain standardized tests, and successfully passing two screening processes. Please refer to the section in the catalog on Education as well as the section on Course Descriptions.

With careful choice of electives and course substitutions students may design a program of study that will prepare them for graduate study in such fields as Athletic Training, Exercise Physiology, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy. Students with this goal in mind should work closely with an advisor in the Division beginning the first year.

Ms. Sharon Wood

Choose a Catalog:

Core Curriculum

The Maryville Curriculum, often called the “core” curriculum, consists of 58 credit hours for the Bachelor of Arts degree and 54 credit hours for the Bachelor of Music degree. Some general education requirements are waived by virtue of the student’s major; others may be met by demonstration of competence. List of Core Courses:

A period of study abroad approved by the International Programming Committee

Learning Outcomes

Students successfully completing the program of study will have achieved the following:

Understand the importance and influence of physical activity and exercise on health and be an advocate for physically active lifestyles as a means to improve quality of life and reduce the risk and prevalence of lifestyle related diseases.

Demonstrate the knowledge and skills to customize fitness and physical activity programming necessary for lifestyle modification

Develop a sense of professionalism by participating in applied academic activities including scholarship, networking, community service and related disciplinary conference activities

Demonstrate a respect for individual similarities and differences that foster the value of diversity through utilizing strategies and programming for the inclusion of all peoples to promote lifetime health and wellness

Develop an awareness of the intrinsic values and benefits of living a healthy lifestyle that provides opportunity for self-expression, participation in lifetime physical activity, social interactions, leadership, enjoyment, and personal growth across the lifespan

Provide an environment that fosters the development of a knowledge base and understanding of how the human body functions in relation to movement concepts, fitness principles, and health literacy strategies as they apply to wellness and exercise science

Promote national health and fitness goals to improve the quality of life and reduce the incidences of chronic lifestyle diseases

Demonstrate knowledge of the historical, philosophical, psychological, and sociological perspectives of physical education